Woman faces Jail over growing veggies in her own yard...

[release the hounds]

Tomatoes aren't a veggie, they're a fruit but they belong in a veggie salad, not a fruit salad. Go figure.

and HOA's, another fine example of other people thinking they should be able to control everyone else. I'm sorry, but any group of people that think a family growing their own food is subject to their regulations should be shipped off to ****ing China.

Sure, get the junker cars out of the yard if you want to chose to live where others dictate what you can do on your own property, but a nicely kept veggie garden in plantar boxes? get over yourself

 

[Laurelin]

I hate HOAs. I see no point, it's ridiculous. Everyone breaks our HOA all the time, though. We're breaking it by having 5 dogs. Neighbors are breaking it by having a wooden fence (the horror!), others are breaking it by having a 'shed'. Completely moronic if you ask me. My house, I should be able to put up whatever kind of fence I want.

That said, our neighbor (head of the HOA) has a big vegetable garden next to his house.

 

[Puckstop31]

Yeah... It IS the land of the free.

If a person CHOOSES to live in a HOA community, they get to enjoy the benefits AND suffer the less than positive effects.

Personally, and I am sure this is not a shock to anyone, I could NEVER, EVER live in a HOA community. HOA's are an example of what happens when people who are unequal by nature, try to force each other to BE equal. That Aristotle dude figured this one out a LONG time ago.

For example, how is that multi-culture thing working out for ya UK?

 

[Jules]

I don't see how that should be a problem if you are not living in an HOA community.

I'm with Jessie, though, we live in an HOA community because we don't intend to live here the next 10 years and resale value IS important. That doesn't mean that I am obsessed with it, but hey, it is always fun to take it to extremes, but yes, it ia nice to know that my investment is somewhat protected. Our HOA is not very strict, and yes, I did read through it before purchasing our home and if I couldn't agree with major points important to us, we wouldn't have bought the house.

 

[Greenmagick]

I guess what bothers me most is that for some reason a totally unsustainable "perfect" yard is somehow deemed more valuable than a veggie garden or a natural yard.

 

[cinnamon]

What if she had a peach tree or apple tree in her front yard? I wonder if they would make her chop it down.

 

[Jules]

I guess what bothers me most is that for some reason a totally unsustainable "perfect" yard is somehow deemed more valuable than a veggie garden or a natural yard.

Well, as much as I love my backyard veggie and herb garden, it is not as pretty as a flower bed and looks is what the front yard is about (at least in my neighborhood). It is not a question of value, but placement, I'd say. But that's what makes sense to me in an HOA community, living outside of one I think it's ridiculous to give her a citation for it.

 

[Greenmagick]

Well, as much as I love my backyard veggie and herb garden, it is not as pretty as a flower bed and looks is what the front yard is about (at least in my neighborhood). It is not a question of value, but placement, I'd say. But that's what makes sense to me in an HOA community, living outside of one I think it's ridiculous to give her a citation for it.

Right but thats kind of my point...we are putting an ideal beauty (and I know some HOAs where even flower gardens are monitored) of landscaped flowers and lawns as somehow more valuable and appropriate to be seen. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Personally I think a lawn full of clover, dandelions, plantain, etc with a cottage style garden full of a modge podge of flowers, herbs, and veggies is simply stunning (even if its a bit overgrown and weedy).

 

[Xandra]

Right but thats kind of my point...we are putting an ideal beauty (and I know some HOAs where even flower gardens are monitored) of landscaped flowers and lawns as somehow more valuable and appropriate to be seen. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Personally I think a lawn full of clover, dandelions, plantain, etc with a cottage style garden full of a modge podge of flowers, herbs, and veggies is simply stunning (even if its a bit overgrown and weedy).

Agreed (well I wouldn't call it stunning lol) but I really don't like the look of manicured lawns, pruned shrubs and with a couple exceptions, cultivated looking flowers. I love overgrown gardens.

My neighbor's yard is basically a 3/4 acre vegetable garden. It's awesome. As far as aesthetics go, for me, his 3/4 acre of just sprouting dirt patches, stepping stones, fruit trees, grape vines, compost piles etc trumps the "American Dream" look of mowed lawns, rows of heavily pruned shrubs etc. by a mile.


But if you buy into a HOA then yeah, you have to abide by their rules.

 

[~Jessie~]

I don't see how that should be a problem if you are not living in an HOA community.

I'm with Jessie, though, we live in an HOA community because we don't intend to live here the next 10 years and resale value IS important. That doesn't mean that I am obsessed with it, but hey, it is always fun to take it to extremes, but yes, it ia nice to know that my investment is somewhat protected. Our HOA is not very strict, and yes, I did read through it before purchasing our home and if I couldn't agree with major points important to us, we wouldn't have bought the house.

I agree. We made sure we agreed with our HOA's rules before we bought our house, and it's not very strict at all. We aren't planning on living in this house forever, and feel more comfortable about living in an HOA to protect our resale value.

We looked at a house we REALLY liked... however, it was not in an HOA and a few houses down had a bunch of cars in the front yard... which is something I do not want to live near.

Also, I like the look of manicured yards. Why not put the veggie garden in the backyard?

 

[~Jessie~]

IMO, I think this:

and this:

are much more attractive than this:

Again, if she's not living in an HOA then it should be her business to do what she wants in her front yard... but I don't think it's attractive from the street at all.

 

[Greenmagick]

See, but its not your house so really none of your business I find it much more attractive (though hard to compare as the houses are totally different too) as it to me shows someone actually working with and using the land vs trying to manicure it.

Why not just use the backyard -

who knows...for me, number one why should you have to

maybe the backyard is fenced for dogs and/or kids

maybe the backyard does have veggies and one wants more

maybe the backyard (and this is really common) is shaded and cant grow veggies.

 

[~Jessie~]

See, but its not your house so really none of your business I find it much more attractive (though hard to compare as the houses are totally different too) as it to me shows someone actually working with and using the land vs trying to manicure it.

Well, it's a thread on this forum so debating it IS my business I DO think it's unattractive. Again, I am entitled to my opinion. Apparently a lot of her neighbors feel the same way

If it was MY neighbor in MY neighborhood (again, I live in an HOA so it would NOT be allowed) I would be complaining about it as well.

However, like I said, if she is NOT in an HOA than she can do whatever she wants and I don't have an issue.

 

[Greenmagick]

It was a general you...as in meaning complaining about someone growing veggies in their yard...why is that anyone elses business.

Geez Louise, didnt say anything about debating on the forum

 

[~Jessie~]

It was a general you...as in meaning complaining about someone growing veggies in their yard...why is that anyone elses business.

Geez Louise, didnt say anything about debating on the forum

That's not how it came across, though. You responded to ME and said it was none of my business.

 

[Greenmagick]

the point being its NO ONE else's business if a person grows veggies in their front yard....not its not your business to discuss it on a forum

 

[~Jessie~]

the point being its NO ONE else's business if a person grows veggies in their front yard....not its not your business to discuss it on a forum

It would be my business if it was in my neighborhood, though.

So, if she lives in a neighborhood with a HOA, then her neighbors have the right to complain about it.

 

[NicoleLJ]

Then they would really hate a potty pen. lol Not all home have back yards. When I was a single mom, many years ago, I lived in a house that only had a front yard. If a veggie garden is not allowed then I could garentee a potty pen would not be allowed. And I think that is crazy. I bought the house and land and as long as it is kept neat then keep your nose in your own yard and business. Otherwise if there are rules to that extreme then I would prefer renting to owning because I would not really own it in my mind if I was not free to do with it what I like.

 

[Greenmagick]

It would be my business if it was in my neighborhood, though.

And thats what I disagree with. I think HOA's are for the most part absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Dizzy]

Meh - if it was old abandoned cars, rubbish and grot then fair enough. We should all be encouraged to grow veg... it should ADD to value of property!